Ontario Construction News staff writer
Tiny hummingbirds have accomplished what activists and protesters have tried for years to do – delay construction on the multibillion-dollar TransMountain pipeline project for the next four months.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has ordered work to stop until Aug. 21 after the discovery of an Anna’s hummingbird nest in a tree that was felled during construction of the pipeline.
The migratory bird is not endangered, but it is protected under federal law. Community groups in southern British Columbia raised the alarm this spring that TransMountain was cutting trees in vulnerable nesting areas.
“Cutting vegetation and trees or carrying out other disruptive activities such as bulldozing or using chainsaws and heavy machinery in the vicinity of active nests will likely result in disturbance or destruction of those nests,” ECCC said in a statement, adding that because of the season, “migratory birds are particularly vulnerable at this time”.
Concerned residents closely monitor construction near the city of Burnaby, sighting concern that protected birds and nests were being ignored by the company as it presses ahead with construction.
“Our members have confirmed eight active nests on this site, but there are hundreds, likely thousands more bird nests along the 1,500km of the pipeline route. And yet, construction continues without adequate government monitoring or protection,” Sarah Ross from Community Nest Finding Network said in a statement.
TransMountain officials responded, saying workers it try to clear trees outside of critical nesting seasons, but “this is not always feasible”.
The stop-work order applies to a 900-metre tract and won’t impact the planned completion date in late 2022, the statement said. Construction will continue outside the affected area.
Marred by cost overruns in recent months, the $12.6 billion project will nearly triple capacity of the existing pipeline, moving 890,000 barrels of crude oil each day to the Pacific Ocean when complete.